Background
Biodiversity is the basis for our lives and economies. Biodiversity loss has not been stopped however. Even though only a fraction of the value of ecosystem services is required for their preservation, the financial means are lacking, especially as states spend less on environmental protection because of the economic and financial crisis. Therefore, the focus has shifted to the private sector to make up the difference.The Global Nature Fund (GNF) and the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) are examining how financing mechanisms can be developed to create win-win situations for companies and biodiversity.
Biodiversity markets are seen as vital tools for the implementation of the strategic goals of the UN Convention on Biodiversity. Examples are carbon trading, certified products, eco-tourism and air pollution markets. It is often cheaper for a company to offset impacts indirectly via a market than to restore an ecosystem itself. The most important markets for the project are for compensation measures and payment for ecosystem services. However, many of these tools are still in their infancy. The example of the European Emissions Trade shows what problems arise with the development of such mechanisms. The securing of ecological use has top priority.